When I was at University, I spent some time in the Union – as president. During that time my major campaign was on taking down working with Landlords. They had a terrible reputation for poor quality properties, generalising across all students, ripping off everyone, and loop holes in contracts. I created a student wide survey to establish the severity of the problem – and collect evidence to support my argument. The results were shocking, students suffering depression, hideous living conditions, and having thousands of pounds taken off them. I worked with various organisations to create a landlord accreditation scheme to beat out those landlord moguls. I am happy to say the schemes still running to this day :).
Have you ever failed to read a contract? Write a poem about the results, or a story about not having read the contract you just signed.
Here’s mine:
“I should have read the contract,” I said pawing at my clammy skin.
“If you think this is about signing a contract, James, you’re more of a fool than I thought.”
Kevin took a seat in the brown leather armchair, picked up the tumbler full of whisky and rolled it round his hand. The ice cubes rattled against the glass, each clink sounding like gun fire. Clink. Clink. Sweat trickled down my neck and soaked into my shirt collar. I shifted uncomfortably on the sofa opposite Kevin, leather creaked in the heavy air and my chest felt heavy.
Kevin snorted, “this was only ever about money and power, James. If you hadn’t signed that contract, you know damn well she would have gone for your family, or friends or whatever the hell else is important to you. Until she spilled your blood all over that contract, she’d never of stopped, and you know it.”
He leant forward in the armchair, pulled his hand through his greasy hair and rubbed his unshaven face. Wafts of stale whiskey and old aftershave lingered in the air between us.
“Since when did you become a drunk, Kevin?”
“What the fuck does it matter if I enjoy a drink every now and then, James? What does any of it matter any more?”
I stared at him swigging from the tumbler, sloshing whiskey on his grubby chinos. Something had driven him to drink. He was too ambitious just to let it all go.
“Shit, Kevin. She made you sign a contract too, didn’t she?”
He tipped his head at me, raised his glass and said, “yeah, the bitch got me too. Cheers to the end of the line, James,” and necked the rest of the whiskey.
***
Now to last weeks writespiration
Keith up first with a fantastic flash with dark twists and in my fave genre to boot, read it on his blog here.
If I close my eyes and clear my mind, I can re-live it as though it were only yesterday it happened to me. I suppose, in a way, it was yesterday. Ever since that first time, every day merges into a constant today; no beginning, no end; and everything that’s not of today is yesterday.
It wasn’t always like this. In the beginning; so long ago yet only yesterday; I led a normal life. I reached the grand old age of 35, an age that not many men achieved in those times, and was totally ready for the end when it came. I wasn’t ready for the means it chose, though. I expected to succumb to disease or to a wild animal of some kind; even to die in battle. I didn’t expect to go out to a flash of light from the sky.
That was the first time I died. Immediately, as far as I was concerned, I awoke in a world that was very different to the one I knew; and yet it didn’t feel unfamiliar to me. I had lived all my life, my prior life, in a cave. I had slept directly on the cave floor, covered by an animal skin to ward off the cold of the night. Somehow, though, it seemed right and fitting that I should regain consciousness on a wooden bed with a straw mattress, with a woven cover on top of me for warmth.
Since that awakening, I’ve experienced the same flash of light every day, and every morning I’m resurrected in a different bed, in a different time. Every day is different: different styles, technologies and methods, yet every day is exactly as it should be.
How many times has this happened? I honestly don’t know. Although I have a clear memory of each morning, I can’t count them. As soon as I try, they all fade away, leaving me convinced that this today is not only the first one, but also the only one. I can remember other todays only when I don’t try to, and that’s not any easy skill to master. You don’t believe me? Here’s a challenge. Pick on something, anything: an event, a book, film, person, anything at all. Got one? Now don’t think about it. Keep not thinking about it. Surprised? Of course you are. The skill lies in not trying not to think about it. You can’t not think about it because you planted it there and you keep telling yourself not to think about it. And telling yourself that is thinking about it.
So which was my first time? If I think about it, my first journey into life was today. If I don’t think about it, it was a very long time ago – yesterday, in fact.
***
Sue next with a saucy… I mean straight up first time:
I will never forget that first time. The surge of emotion, somewhere between a frisson of fear and a growing excitement… the smell of leather… the rising thrill as my touch called up such a powerful response. Since that day, I have been addicted to that sensation.
I was a bit of a late starter; something had always made me hold back. Fear, perhaps… losing control…being at the mercy of something powerful? I don’t know. I had come close to giving in once before… but it wasn’t right. I knew that… then things got scary. Dangerous, even.
It had been years before I got over that.
And then, someone came into my life and everything changed. There was a need… my own feelings took second place, my fears were dismissed, banished by the force of his belief in me and his gentle persuasion that I should simply give myself to the moment.
The world changed for me that day, opening itself in ways I had never dreamed, with a freedom I could not have expected. Why had it taken me so long? Learning to drive was the best thing I ever did…
***
Geoff’s a rotter with the twist at the end of this one:
My first time was at a party. Dark, too much booze and a heightened awareness fighting a lowered sense of restraint: all the ingredients needed. She came over but couldn’t make herself heard, despite her lips brushing my ear. I’d talked to her in class, but never thought she’d be interested in me. She took my hand and pulled me outside. The evening was cool, the grass damp as we lay down. ‘Don’t close your eyes,’ she said. I waited, nervy, trying not to be excited. ‘You said you’d never seen Cassiopeia before. There is it.’ It wasn’t quite what I was expecting. ‘No let’s see if we can find Orion.’
***
esthernewton2013 says
Loved all these. Really clever writing 🙂
Sacha Black says
Thanks Esther ? hope your well x
esthernewton2013 says
Thanks, Nica. Yes, not too bad. So much to catch up on since leaving Voda but getting there 🙂 Hope things are going well for you x
macjam47 says
Loved these. Great writing.
TanGental says
I should have read the contract
For my holiday in Spain
It’s tucked away in small print
It’s caused a lot of pain
I should have read the contract
On booking my cheap flight
It’s tucked away in small print
The bit that isn’t right
I should have read the contract
I thought I’d ticked ‘One bag’
It’s tucked away in small print
It’s really such a fag
I should have read the contract
I’ve had to leave my stuff
It’s tucked away in small print
And now I’m in the buff
I should have read the contract
The seat is double booked
It’s tucked away in small pint
I really wish I’d looked
I should have read the contract
I’m starkers with no seat
It’s tucked away in small print
I’ll just accept defeat
I should have read the contract
The Spanish aren’t so nice
It’s tucked away in small print
My nudity’s a vice
I should have read the contract
Two week’s in Spain’s worst jail
It’s tucked away in small print
It’s so beyond the pail
I should have read the contract
My holidays aborted
It’s tucked in small print
You see I’ve been deported
Sacha Black says
What the actual F?! this is genius – I have no clue how you rhymed this, but it made me laugh out loud – and its midnight which means i shouldnt be cackling incase I wake the household!! Pure brilliance as always – don’t you ever get tired of being good geoffle?!
TanGental says
you really do need to talk to the Textiliste about the dangers of inflating my ego. It will explode and it won’t be pretty. But thank you dear lady for the compliment.
Sacha Black says
I’ll get bored soon. I have a short attention span. That, or you will have to up your game. :p popped yet? :p
TanGental says
Still inflating…. I expect I’ll go critical about 3.27…
Sacha Black says
sigh. I’ll have to whop out some more bants then! *ducks*
Norah says
You, of all people, should have read the small print, Geoff!! Hilarious!
Norah says
How wonderful to have started something so valuable in your university days that it is still in place today. (I’m assuming it wasn’t last year!)
The contract of your story sounds deadly! Though I have no idea what it is for.
I love the twists that both Sue and Geoff put into their stories. Keith’s is very strange, but I’m not sure if I’m really thinking that, or not thinking that. Hmmm.
Sacha Black says
Thanks Norah and lol, no. I’m young but not that young!! Went to uni 10 years ago, left at 22 because I did a masters. Although was president for a couple years after that.
Thanks and yeah I wasn’t sure what sort of contract to do either so thought I would allude to it! Hehe. I love Sue and Geoffs twists too, Keith’s was really thought provoking. Hope you are well this week. ?
Norah says
All good, Sacha. Thanks. I’m sure you’re all getting excited over there now! 🙂 Have fun without me!